January 12, Colombo (LNW): The Ministry of Urban Development and Housing has confirmed its decision to resume 12 major government housing projects that had been put on hold due to the ongoing economic crisis.
The announcement was made following a meeting chaired by the ministry’s secretary, Ranjith Ariyaratne, and attended by key officials from various institutions, including the Urban Development Authority (UDA) and the National Housing Development Authority (NHDA).
The suspension of these projects, which had been halted midway, was primarily attributed to the severe economic downturn and the involvement of unsuitable contractors.
These delays have significantly hindered the progress of planned housing development in several regions.
However, the ministry is now taking steps to revitalise these initiatives in order to meet the growing demand for affordable housing.
The 12 projects in question consist of six managed by the Urban Development Authority and an additional six overseen by the National Housing Development Authority.
Together, these projects aim to construct approximately 4,000 new homes, which are seen as crucial to addressing the housing shortage in the country.
In response to the setbacks, the Ministry has made the decision to replace the current contractors with more qualified and reliable firms.
This move is expected to speed up the construction process and ensure that the projects are completed to the required standards.
